Referendum result

By referendum on 23 June the UK voted by a narrow margin to leave the European Union. Whilst this was not the decision many of us would have wanted, we have to accept the outcome.

Heathcoat Fabrics business is built on international trade and we expect it to remain so. Our obligation now is to ensure that the UK decision to leave the EU does not have any detrimental impact on Heathcoat Fabrics customers:

Short term, the UK has two years from the point of official confirmation that it plans to leave the EU to negotiate a deal. In reality it is likely, due to the complexities involved that it will take at least this long for agreement to be reached and the timeframe may well end up being extended. For the intervening period the UK will remain a full member of the EU.

Longer term the expectation is that the UK will remain closely associated with the EU, potentially through membership of the European Free Trade Association. EFTA membership maintains free movement of goods, services and people; or alternatively through membership of the European Economic Area, which would be similar but slightly more complex. As one of the outcomes of the referendum has been a political vacuum in the UK the exact outcome is difficult to determine. It is however in the interest of all parties to deliver a constructive solution.

Heathcoat Fabrics commitment to our customers is that we will do all that we can to ensure that the decision has no adverse impact on our ability to meet your expectations either in the short, or longer term.